CVE-2023-53679
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an integer underflow vulnerability in the MediaTek MT7601U WiFi driver in the Linux kernel. An attacker could manipulate network packets to trigger a null pointer dereference, potentially causing kernel crashes or denial of service. Systems using the affected WiFi driver are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Linux kernel with mt7601u WiFi driver
📦 What is this software?
Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →Linux Kernel by Linux
The Linux Kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system, serving as the critical interface between computer hardware and software processes. As the heart of millions of servers, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, Android devices, and IoT deployments worldwide, the Linux Kernel mana...
Learn more about Linux Kernel →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Kernel panic leading to system crash and denial of service, potentially allowing local privilege escalation if combined with other vulnerabilities.
Likely Case
System crash or kernel panic requiring reboot, causing temporary denial of service.
If Mitigated
Minor performance impact from packet validation with no security breach.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires ability to send crafted packets to the WiFi interface. Found via syzkaller fuzzing.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fixed in kernel commits: 1a1f43059afae5cc9409e0c3bc63bfc09bc8facb, 47dc1f425af57b71111d7b01ebd24e04e8d967ef, 61d0163e2be7a439cf6f82e9ad7de563ecf41e7a, 67e4519afba215199b6dfa39ce5d7ea673ee4138, 803f3176c5df3b5582c27ea690f204abb60b19b9
Vendor Advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Linux kernel to version containing the fix commits. 2. For distributions: Use package manager (apt/yum/dnf) to update kernel. 3. Reboot system to load new kernel.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable mt7601u driver
LinuxBlacklist or disable the vulnerable WiFi driver if not needed
echo 'blacklist mt7601u' >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
rmmod mt7601u
Network isolation
allIsolate WiFi network from untrusted devices
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disconnect or disable affected WiFi adapters
- Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if mt7601u module is loaded: lsmod | grep mt7601u. Check kernel version against patched versions.Check Version:
uname -rVerify Fix Applied:
Verify kernel version includes fix commits. Check dmesg for no crashes related to mt7601u.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic messages
- null pointer dereference in dmesg
- segmentation faults in kernel logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual packet patterns to WiFi interface
- Malformed 802.11 frames
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("mt7601u" OR "null pointer dereference" OR "KASAN")🔗 References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a1f43059afae5cc9409e0c3bc63bfc09bc8facb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/47dc1f425af57b71111d7b01ebd24e04e8d967ef
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61d0163e2be7a439cf6f82e9ad7de563ecf41e7a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/67e4519afba215199b6dfa39ce5d7ea673ee4138
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/803f3176c5df3b5582c27ea690f204abb60b19b9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0db59e2f718d1e2f1d2a2d8092168fdd2f3add0
